Epic Partners previously received funding to kickstart their Community Kickboxing diversionary programme for young people.
Funding awards of up to £5,000 are today being offered to community groups to help ‘transform lives’ and Make Notts Safe.
The cash from Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry’s Community Chest fund can make a huge difference to local organisations, as Epic Partners can testify after they received funding to kickstart their Community Kickboxing diversionary programme for young people in the inner-city areas of Sneinton and St Ann’s.
This has been having a real impact on making positive behavioural changes for children who had been identified as being either involved or at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity by allowing them to participate in positive activities at times of high risk - after school and at weekends.
Pete Bewley, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Epic Partners, said funding like the Community Chest fund was a huge boost for organisations such as his and encouraged others to take advantage of the opportunities this latest pot of money gives.
“Every grant we receive makes a huge difference, not only to us as a charity in the community but also the children and young people that we work with,” he said.
“It gives us an opportunity to give them access to opportunities they wouldn’t normally have access to, especially at the moment with the cost of living going through the roof.
“By attending and taking part in the kickboxing sessions, many of these children developed their personal skills including listening, communication, following instructions, team building, behaviour and anger management and responding positively to authority.
“Although following the strict rules and regulations of kickboxing was difficult for some children and young people at the start, they soon developed and learned how to control both their bodies and their concentration to enable them to take part in larger community groups.”
The Community Chest is aimed at third sector community-based organisations, and in some cases parish councils, to support projects that help meet the Police and Crime Commissioner’s priorities in the Make Notts Safe Plan.
These priorities are: Preventing crime and protecting people from harm; responding efficiently and effectively to local needs; and supporting victims, survivors, witnesses and communities.
Examples of how the money could be used include funding community events to build trust and confidence in Nottinghamshire Police; running small scale activities for young people at risk, undertaking outreach or awareness-raising initiatives, or purchasing small items of equipment for community initiatives.
The Community Chest opens twice a year for funding bids, with local groups able to bid for up to £5,000 from the £25,000 pot. The final deadline for applications is 5 August 2022. Successful applicants will receive funding in September and it must be used by the end of March 2023.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “This is a great opportunity for local community-based organisations to get some vital funding to help achieve our shared aim to Make Notts Safe. We have seen from experience that organisations like Epic Partners have used this funding to help transform lives for the better.
“With the cost of living at the moment, many people in our communities are finding it really challenging but this funding opportunity gives a chance to provide much-needed support.
“I would encourage anyone who is part of a third sector community-based organisation to put in a bid if they feel their project can help deliver the Make Notts Safe Plan priorities.”
To find out more about the Community Chest funding, or to make an application, click here.
Posted on Monday 27th June 2022